technology vacation

This will be my last post till the new year. I'm taking a vacation from modern technology for one whole week. No blogs. No facebook. No email. No electronic banking, ect. until the first of the year.

Yeah, sounds pretty impossible to me too.

Yesterday I weighed myself at Bonnie's and I like her scale. It said 230. (: About six pound less than the doctors scale. Since the scale at the nutritionist weighs about 10 pounds heavier than the doctor's, I'm guessing that puts me at about 240, gaining three pounds from my last weigh in. Thank goodness the last weigh-in is Monday, January third. One less stressor.

This morning I took Sharon to the gym. Rode the bike at #7 for about 10 minutes, #10 for another ten minutes, slid up to #12 and finished up at #15. #10 was tough. #12 was tougher. #15 kicked my butt. I only did it for maybe a minute. When I got off I had Jello legs. I guess it would be helpful to know what the numbers mean.

We're supposed to get a snow storm tonight. Maybe as much as a foot. So my exercise tomorrow will be shoveling. Maybe. I never believe the weather people till I see it. This year it will just be three sidewalks instead of the previous five or six. Plus the space in front of my garage.

The Peeps 5K is Friday. The route has been totally changed. It should be interesting. Lydia is coming, as well as her Bari Buddy Kathy. And Bonnie of course. With Bonnie coming off a knee injury, maybe I'll actually beat her across the finish line!

I'll be eating out a lot this week, so exercise every day is going to be critical. Maybe I'll even get to do the walking video I found online. Oh wait, no online. See it will be tough.

See you in 2011.

merry christmas

Today is Christmas. Not much of an event at my house. We only have a tree because I'm stubborn. Let's just say my roommate makes the Grinch and Scrooge look like icons of happiness.

Sharon wanted to go to the gym, so I said yes. I remembered from her orientation that they were open 365 days a year. Holidays were weekend hours. And they were open 4th of July when we went. We arrived and the parking lot was empty. The place however was lit up like it was open. Every light on and the televisions were going. The sign on the door said closed. Apparently I was wrong about orientation. It didn't bother me so much that they were closed, but that they were clearly wasting huge amounts of electricity. I realize you need light for security but flat screen televisions are power hogs. It was disgusting and irresponsible from my point of view.

So we went to Bauer's Rock at Big Rock Park. The lot only holds about four cars. I don't think it gets used much except by teens for beer parties.

As we hiked up the hill I don't think Sharon thought we'd ever get there. It was only about 500 feet, but a bit of an incline. Off on the left was the civil defense horn tower (Do they still use those?) and on the right the broadcast towers for Channel 69. The "road" ended at the broadcast towers, and it turned into a path, which led to a giant hole. I think the hole is relatively new, but people, or animals had formed a new path around it. Up ahead we saw a big rock. Sharon and I thought that was it. But it wasn't. Off to the left was a huge rock formation. Clearly the picture does not do it justice. The rocks were covered by graffiti.

Sharon decided to stay at the bottom and take my picture. However, she zoomed in so you can't see how high I went. I didn't go to the top. The rocks were cold and slippery from the paint. There were beer and water bottles thrown about. the rock that has the white "DE" on it, near the apex, is as far as I got. I really feared falling. I have no health insurance. I may be crazy but I am not a fool.

This was a task for someone young, physically fit, and fearless. Not for some old fat woman with no upper body strength. Except maybe my friend Betsy. She could have done it.

This formation is really near Mountain House Girl Scout camp. I wish I had known about it, I would have taken the kids there. They enjoy Jacobs ladder at Mosey Wood so much and this is so much higher. Of course, the other side is a shear drop down!

Before I started climbing I confirmed that Sharon had her cell phone. I told her exactly where we were at: Big Rock Park. When I got back she was relieved she didn't need to call 911. I am too. When I asked her if she remembered where we were she said "a really big rock, up a really big hill, off of another really big hill." Yep, I would have been dead by the time help arrived. Next time we have an adventure, I'm writing it down.

twas the day before christmas

Doing better at walking this week. I guess it's true, I am goal oriented.

With next week off, and my pledge to turn off technology for a week, I should get mega exercise in. And reading. And knitting. And a movie or three. (Two actually. One each with my niece and nephew. Narnia and what?)

I went walking on Wednesday with Betsy for an hour and did my shopping first at Crest Plaza so I could avoid the dreaded Cold Stone Creamery. Only did the stairs and shopping walking Thursday. Today I went out walking with Sharon. Tried to push her to go a little faster. Tomorrow we're going to the gym and then the hike up to Big Rock Park and then Saturday or Sunday I'll ride the bike again at the gym when I take Sharon.

Guessing the gym will be empty tomorrow.

I did find some fresh motivation this morning at the Wawa. Strangest things you can get there.

I pulled in next to a mini van filled with crap. I noticed because the whole back was covered in bumper stickers. When I went in, there was a 500-600 pound man coming out carrying his big bag. The kind of "fat" person you see on The Biggest Loser. He nearly mowed me over. I felt skinny looking at him, but thought nothing else about it.

Then when I came out the white van was still there. Inside it was the 500 pound man. His seat was all the way back, his shirt had hiked up so his belly was sticking out and it was hanging over the steering wheel. He had a USAToday resting on the steering wheel and his gut. With a giant coffee cup in one hand and one of his breakfast sandwiches in the other.

I was embarrassed by myself. I could keep my eyes off the car. I was staring! I forced myself into my car and finally pulled away.

"There but for the grace of god go I" looped thru my head.

Thank you very fat man. You were a well needed kick in the butt.

happy solstice.

Happy solstice. Did you catch the eclipse? I didn't. I slept thru it. Hopefully Belle saw it from her airplane. I have to remember to ask her.

It's been a long time since I posted.

Excuses: It's cold. I was sick a couple of days. Final exams. Making runs to airports. Mary Liz back from Puerto Rico with sore leg, so old dependable that forces me to walk, isn't.

Just excuses. No action. I'm lazy—pure and simple. But I must stop.

I've been eating (and drinking!) a lot since there is a party with calorie laden food at every doorway, so I need to walk.The nutritionist would like to see another eight pounds gone on January 3 when I go back. I'm hoping to break even.

So the weather should be clearer this week, maybe the high 30s. That's great walking weather. I'm going to go out Wednesday with Betsy. We did go out for a bit in the cold Friday. But I stopped at the Wine & Spirit Shoppe on the way home and there is a Cold Stone Creamery next door. Let's just say that walk didn't count!

I went with Sharon to the gym on Sunday morning and did the bike for 20 minutes at #7. Whatever that means.

So the plan is to walk, even for a little while, everyday till the third. I think on Christmas Day I'm going to go to Big Rock Park, aka Bauer Rock. The hike isn't far but the view is supposed to be great. It's near Bonnie's and that's where I'm having dinner.

Some people have asked me about the nutritionist. Why haven't I said anything else? How's it going?

It's simple. It wasn't what was I looking for. She had her agenda—weight loss. It wasn't mine. I've done all the things she's talking about already. That's when I got stuck and needed help. I don't need to spend money for printouts from the net. I know that my problem lines not as much in portion control but what I eat and in what combination. Clearly too much sugar and carbs. Her solution to that is to eat more animal protein to keep you fuller longer. I would like to eat less animal protein, not more. Quasi vegetarian would suit me well. There seems to be no adjustments in the diet for lifestyle.

Last time she acknowledged that I real do eat a pretty balanced diet. Lots of fruits and veggies, whole grains, ect. Not burgers and fries every night, which I think is the stereotype for fat people. She acknowledged that more than likely I am a food addict. I figured that out the first night. I eat from stress. Reduce my stress and the weight and issues go away. Anybody want a roommate? Oh, and I need one job, not three. Apparently she doesn't read the papers. We're in the middle of the great recession. I should thank god that I have three jobs. She suggested therapy. Great, who's gonna pay for it? Obama's health care bill doesn't stand a snowballs chance in hell of making it to execution stage.

Bottom line. I've lost about eight pounds on her scale. That puts me me still plus two on the scale from the doctor. She thinks I should be excited. I'm not. I look at it as gaining two pounds. If she knew me at all she'd know that not only is the glass never half full, but it has a crack, and is leaking profusely.

Can't wait till it's over.

me, a shepherd?

Yesterday I got up at 4 am and drove to Newark to pick up Bob and Mary Liz at the Newark Airport. By 10:30 am I was on a bus to Nazareth for the 51st annual Peace Pilgrimage. I've seen these walkers other years, and thought I should do that some time. But never did.

Now that I've been walking so much, 10-miles doesn't seem far anymore. Besides, when else could you "safely" walk from Nazareth to Bethlehem?

We met near the YMCA in Bethlehem and boarded school buses to Nazareth Moravian church. It's right on the square and the town creche is beautiful. I took pictures. You can see them in my webshots album.

We waited there for at least another hour. I didn't realize they staggered the bsses, so I didn't need to get there so early. While waiting I was asked if I wanted to be a shepherd. Sure. What is a shepherd? The answer: You keep the "flock" safe and together. Make sure nobody gets left behind. For my "job" I was issued an orange safety vest.

I believe one of the older women was named Fern. My guess was she was one of the organizers. She mentioned while we were waiting that most of the Moravian churches in the area had Putzes. But theirs was covered up so we couldn't see it. I was a tad disappointed because I had never seen theirs, but oh well. Then a hand went up. "What's a Putz? I know what it is in Yiddish but I'm guessing it's not the same." Made me smile.

Looking around the room in the church basement there were some really old people. They were going to walk. At least one in their 90s. A half-dozen or so in their 80s, a good dozen in their 70s and a large group in their 60s. Some had done it for nearly all previous walks. It was inspirational.

The very old people walked better than some of the young ones! The youngest walkers were in strollers.

Then we headed down to Rt. 191. Where the Nazareth police let us j-walk. That was fun. I don't like that intersection in a car.  Close to Hecktown we saw another photographer. I thought he might be from the Express, but I didn't see anything in today's paper. Never saw anyone from the Call.

After what I thought was a long stop at a church in Hecktown, we proceeded down 191. Our next stop was a very long break at the Bethlehem Baptist church. My guess is 45 minutes. I was there a half hour and for that section I assigned the rear with two ladies having some serious trouble walking. Finally before McDonald's they got on the sweep van. But the rest of the group was a good three blocks ahead. Uphill,

Finally we got going again, and everyone seemed to be moving quicker. Maybe it was sidewalks. Maybe it was the long break, but they were moving. I was in the front for that section and got snapped by the Bethlehem Press photographer. (We'll see Wednesday if it's in.)

At the First Church of the Nazarene we picked up candles and lanterns. It was about 4:45 pm and and getting dark. By the time the procession reached Central Moravian it was dark. I peeled off and went back to the car. The group would sing carols in from of Central and then hike up to Christ Church for soup (bring your own bowl) and a lecture by Nancy Tate of Lepoco.

It was a good day. A great walk for a great cause. But I have to tell you those mammoth breaks were hard. 15 minutes is long enough for a break.

If you want to read about the walk,  a "journalist" or was she a blogger, was there from patch.com. She posted a story today. With a bunch of pictures. I'm not in any.

baby it's cold outside

It's a fun song, and this week true. I'm trying to get in at least some walking everyday thru the winter. Partly because it's encouraged by the nutritionist. Partly because I'll turn into a bigger fat blob if I don't.

Tuesday I walked at lunch time, round trip only a mile.  Better than nothing. This morning I walked down to the grocery store. Shockingly it's only a mile and a half round trip. I thought it was at least a mile.

Saturday is the Peace Pilgrimage from Nazareth to Bethlehem. That's 10 miles and no fund raising. Hope the bitter cold end for it. I have to remember to pull the bells off my sneakers before I go.

links

At T'ai Chi they teach you about breathing. Your breath controls your energy and that what's what relieves your stress. I also heard this at a walking class, Breathwalk (through Walk for all Seasons), I took a year ago. It combines walking and yoga techinques together. It was tough. Today, this showed up in my NPR feed. Yet another reminder that breathing correctly relieves stress. All I need to do is do it!

Right after I posted that I thought I was a food addict, my friend Angel sent me this. More stuff to think about.

Nutritionist today. I certainly didn't lose weight this week. Might have gained. Last week I ate out every day, at least once. Sometimes twice. Not good for the budget or the waist.

another walk with lydia

Now that Lyd has discovered walking, I frequently have a walking buddy. Of course, when she loses another 50 pounds, she'll speed off ahead of me. Oh well.

Saturday she mentioned walking Sunday while she was visiting her dad at the hospital. It's about 5 blocks from my place. Sunday she Facebooked me. Wanna go at 1:30. So I said of course.

So about 1:15 I hiked up to the hospital, and waited in the lobby till she came down. I had on a coat, scarf, hat, and gloves. She had on a hoodie. Brrrr.

We headed out Ostrum and headed north on the Hill To Hill Bridge. About 50 feet onto the bridge Lydia says, 'I've never walked on this bridge before. I probably saw fireworks on the New Street, but never this one.' Bonnie and I always take a picture when we cross a new bridge, so I snatched her camera and dashed ahead and took the picture. Tradition!

We took the Second Avenue ramp and came back Lehigh Street. Lyd wanted to see St. Nick so we went to Christkindlmarkt. (Lydia should not have taken this picture from the side!) They had some really cool handcrafted pepper mills. Temptation was great. Anyway, she's talking to St. Nick and he says to sit on his knee. She says I'll break your knee. Needless to say, he won.

We walked around a bit more, and then headed out of the Market and down to Lehigh Street and over the Fahy (New Street) Bridge. Lydia hadn't eaten since breakfast, so we stopped at Lehigh Pizza for a slice.  As we headed up Third Street she saw The Hill.

We both totally forgot that to start at the hospital you had to hike back up a hill to get back. The Third Street hill is relatively steep. We discussed option. Then she said, 'let's do it." And up we went. We got about half way, the bridge crossing, and had to wait for the light. Gave her a little break. Then up to Cherokee we went. Non stop. We stopped at the stop for maybe 5 seconds and we were off again.

I left her at St. Luke's Place, and headed home. Her milage 3.37. Mine 4.125.

50:46!

ellie's angel logo.

The Jingle Bell run for arthritis was today. I finished the 5K in 50:46. Whoo Hoo. Well ahead of the rest of Ellie's Angels. Lydia 61:50;  Kathy 63:xx; and Sharon 65:56. Bonnie is still sitting out with her knee injury.

Last night I picked up our bibs, tees, and jingle bells. Then I stopped at Party City for halos. The tee-shirt transfers ended up not working so we went without the logo.

This event requires costumes. And some were really fun.

It was Kathy and Lydia's first 5K. Both had gastric by-pass and are down about 100 pounds. I told them I was going for 50 minutes, and I'd come back and get them when I crossed the finish.

We started and ended at Northampton Community College. The course was hillier than I remembered. Hills usually wipe me out. I can't tell you the route, I'm not familiar with the streets in the sub-division.

kathy, me, sharon, bonnie, lydia

About half way Bonnie called in her Jillian voice and said, now I want you to power walk from the next tree to the third tree. Only there were no trees, but I did power walk a bit. Even before she called.

After I crossed the finish, I talked to Bonnie for a minute and headed back out, backwards. They had started leaving traffic thru, so it was harder to go back. Lydia was already on the home stretch. Kathy was about a half block behind. No one knew where Sharon was. I saw her, still in the sub-division. And waiting at the light. Then I walked in with her. Of the three, she was the only one struggle. But she didn't finish last!

Lights in the Parkway 5k

Lydia and I did a 5K in the dark. Well almost dark. It was Lights in the Parkway after all.

The walk was only 2 miles, but it was a good starter for Lydia. It was also a great thing for me. How often to I get to do one of these things and don't need to worry about distractions? We finished in 51.48. Ooops. Too much stopping and picture taking. Sadly, people finished after us.

It was quite a hike from the parking area, so we probably did a 5K in the end.

It was dark and muddy. It rained all day. The 5K for the runners followed a similar route, but they only had a mile of the lights. Our whole thing had lights!

We started at the Vultee Street exit, went down the hill, and across the parking lot adjacent to the iron bridge. Then we headed down the muddy gravel bridal path with the lights on our right. We followed that to the Robin Hood Bridge and crossed the bridge, turned around and came back. At that point they told us if we just wanted to see the lights we could turn around. Lydia said an astounding NO. If I'm doing this, I'm doing it.

 We headed out the road to 15th street to the entrance of the parkway where the big sign was. turned around and went thru the lights, this time with lights on both sides of us.
The course ended with the huge hill back up to Vultee Street.

Tomorrow is the Jingle Bell Run. It's a costume event and the costumed runners will be out in full force. Our team is Ellie's Angels. Named after my sister, and Lyds mom, Elin.

I designed a logo for the shirts, but could use it. The iron-ons for dark colors have a horrible white plastic background. The transparent ones you can't see. I'm going to stop at Party City and see if they have halos to wear.

stop eating with your head

Tonight I went to the nutritionist, I weighed 5.5 pound less. Whoopie. I weighed much too much last week, so it was either bloating, or constipation. Both are gone and the weight went with them. Could have been the clothes too.

So now she's upped my weight loss goal for the 5 weeks to 15 pounds. My 950 calorie chicken sandwich last night didn't seem to impact my weight loss, at least this week.

She (and Angel and Bonnie) told me to up my protein so I eat less carbs.

My new goals are 1500 calories
75 grams of protein (60 grams from biological protein)
50 grams of fat
190 grams of carbs
5 days of exercise for at least 45 minutes. T'ai Chi only counts as stress relief.

Plus the old goals, which I didn't reach
Eat only 4xs a day (I'm a grazer)
Reduce coke intake even more

She seemed please that I did two 5Ks this weekend. Belle sent me this site that calculates how many calories you burn doing ordinary things. Including sex.

She told me I needed to learn to eat with my mouth and not with my head. That's hard.  She told me to reduce my stress which triggers eating. That's even harder.

Joans 5K

Bonnie wanted to do this 5K, but couldn't because of her knee injury so I went alone.

It was in the Parkway, but because of Lights in The Parkway it took a different route. We started at the fish hatchery and went east past the covered bridge to the iron bridge. The normal start line of a 5K, then turned around and came back. There was grass, gravel, and even soupy marsh land. I thought I was going at a fairly good pace, but as always in the parkway, it took a long time. I came in at 54:46. Yikes.

In this picture, with all the layers, I look even fatter than normal. And increasingly like my sister Sharon. Who looks like our mother Frances.  My sister Barb made the hat.

Afterwards I took my international "daughters" to Hershey Park as their Christmas gift. Their Sweet Lights is like Lights in the Parkway. Only 10 million times better.

remembered the camera, forgot the card!

I made sure the camera was charged for todays Turkey Trot. I really wanted to take a pix of my timing chip. Alas, the picture is from borrowed from the net. I brought the camera, but forgot the memory card. It wouldn't even turn on. Big fat bummer.

So we met at the Luckenbach Mill. There was almost 1000 people walking and running. Well, mostly running. They had a photographer, one of those sites where they charge you a lot for the pictures, rather than the free downloaded from Flickr/Picassa sites. Oh well.

Since Sharon picked up my race packet I just needed to pick up the chip. It attached to my shoe with a twist tie. They cut it off at the end of the race. It supposed to make it fairer.

From About.com:

Chip time is another way of saying "net time," or the actual amount of time it takes a runner to go from the starting line of a race to the finish line.  ... When you register for a race, you receive your "borrowed" chip, programmed with your information, at the same time you get your race bib. The chip usually attaches to your shoelaces, although some are connected to a Velcro strap that goes around your ankle. At the end of the race, someone will be there to collect the chip from you.

As you move across a special mat at the starting line, the chip registers that you've started the race. Then, as you cross the finishing line, the chip registers that you've finished the race. So, in other words, the amount of time that it takes you to reach the starting line (since most people are not right at the front of the race) doesn't count in your overall time. ... Your chip time is different than your "gun time," which is the amount of time it took you to finish the race from the moment the gun (or horn) went off.

I was cold waiting for the race to start. I had on long underwear top, athletic shirt, and my race tee on. On top of that I had my black athletic jacket. My fuzzy hat from Barb, a pink scarf and pink gloves. The jacket went around my waist at mile one. I wanted to take off another layer but didn't.

They moved the starting line from other years, so everybody who was waiting got crunch backwards, mixing up the runners and walkers. I could tell from his tee shirt that one of the runners was a Marine. He had one leg and one of those funky hook legs for running. There was also fire people in full gear, and an assortment of people with turkey hats.

I didn't here the start, but people started moving. I didn't notice a mat at the start, but there could have been one. I ran the first block or so because if I didn't I would have been crushed to death. Survival.

Finish time 52:23. I'm fine with that. It's a hilly course and I stink on hills.

It felt odd doing a 5K without Bonnie. Maybe next week she can come.

it snowed on thanksgiving

This week I went walking Tuesday at lunchtime, it's only about a mile but it's great to get out of the birdhouse. Since we went to see Harry Potter after work, I skipped t'ai chi. (Bad fat girl.)

On Thanksgiving I thought about doing a 5K in Doylestown. But there are no buses running and my sister was volunteering at the senior center serving Thanksgiving lunch. So I didn't go, and drove her uptown instead. I came back and wrapped her "corporate" gifts and then took a walk. It was snowing. I haven't measured the distance, but I went to Aharts and back so it was at least 2 miles.

Today I went walking with Betsy. It's always about three miles. Maybe a little more. And Logan and Izzy were visiting and they came along. It's been a while since I walked with the dogs. Takes a bit of getting used to. Izzy likes chasing falling leaves. Logan likes to "do his business" in leaf piles.

Bonnie was hoping to walk in the Turkey Trot tomorrow, but she just called and canceled. Her knee is really swollen again. Drats, my one chance to beat her and she doesn't come. Because of the race, I don't think I'll make t'ai chi tomorrow either.

Sharon picked up our race packets this afternoon, so I'll actually have my shirt. From what she said, they are switching to chips instead of clocks, so I "pick up my timer chip tomorrow".

Timer chip. I am so freaking excited.

an epiphany

me, high school graduation photo

Last night was my first of five meetings with the nutritionist, Lisa, at the Bethlehem Township Community Center. Her day job is with one of the hospitals.

She thought I was "motivated" to start this at this time of the year. Perhaps "crazy" is a better word. But I don't think I gorge myself at holiday meals.

Some background, for people who haven't been on this journey with me.

The reason I wanted to go see a professional was to sort out all this information I've been reading on healthy eating, and come up with some way to make it work. Ultimate goal, I lower my blood pressure and get off meds. Loosing a couple pounds wouldn't hurt either.

My way hasn't worked. Keeping a food diary recently made me realize I eat way to many carbs and sugar. But if I don't eat carbs, I'm hungry.

That's the first thing I know for sure.

The second thing is if you tell me "no" I will eat twice, maybe three times the amount I eat now. So I need something that doesn't have "no" in it. The old 80% good/20% bad theory.

The third thing is I am an emotional eater. I eat when I happy, sad, stressed, bored, it goes on and on.

So I went in there looking for the magic wand, and I didn't find it. And that disappointed me. I went for healthy eating. She's all about making a diet.  If I wanted to count and measure I would have gone to Weight Watchers.

So she took my background. Looked kind of shocked when I told her I was well underweight before my mid-twenties. I guess most people with my problem struggled their whole lives.

She weighed me. I'm 10 pounds heavier than on the doctors scale. That hurt.

She wants to take away my last Coke of the day. It won't happen. On this I am sure. I told her how much I used to drink and she was floored.

She doesn't count walking as exercise. You only burn 100 calories an hour. Steps either. Or T'ai Chi. She'd like me to go to the gym. I'd rather stand on my head and clean the toilet with a toothbrush than do that. If it doesn't work for me than it work.  I'm "active". I don't "exercise".

So my goals for this week is one 16 ounce Coke per day or less, four "meals" a day, keep a food and exercise journal. Initially she'll fill in the calories. I have to weigh and measure. Yuck. She's going to give me a generous 1500 calories a day. She thinks I eat at least 500-750 more.

My friend Angel has been trying to give me advice. But as always, I'm stubborn and pig headed and don't listen. She told me to email her last night and tell her how it went. I did.  This was part of her reply:

" Well, I know you hate the word diet and it's emotional implications—but remember with your health issues that a diet is more medical than a mere "gee I have to lose weight."

A medical diet—though restrictive and a pain in the ass—will train you what's good/ what's bad/what's appropriate and make these things habit…   I know you want the freedom and knowledge to make good choices. This is the potential boot camp to shock you into it. "

I didn't like that reply. I got my panties into a gather pretty dang quick. When I typed the reply I had a bit of an epiphany:

"You’re right, I do need to lose weight. But that’s not why I decided to do this. I wanted to learn to eat right. Maybe I should have joined weight watchers. Accountability....

Actually I probably already know what to eat. It’s just doing it.

But that is not the problem. Not even close. That light bulb came on late last night. I have a food addiction. I chose food instead of booze or sex or drugs. THAT is the big problem. I should go to a shrink instead of a nutritionist.

Meanwhile, I had my half cup of oatmeal for breakfast and I’m not a bit hungry but I am counting the minutes till lunch. And more than likely I’ll eat lunch and I’ll do the same thing till dinner.  Yep. I bet if you looked food addiction up, that’s exactly what it would say was a symptom.

But unlike booze or drugs or sex or shopping or any number of things stopping the activity is not an option."

OMG. I'm a food addict.

nutritionist day

Excited. Scared. Terrified. Motivated. Wondering. Anxious. Stressed. Excited.

mini stair climb at lehigh

the beginning: campus square

So Lyd arrived about an hour later. I had some bread in the machine, and we turned on the oven, thre in the pumpkin and hit the road. Dang the house smelled good.

Okay, so it wasn't that easy. We had to get dad in the house (always fun), get him settled, find a ball game for him to watch and cut up the pumpkin before we could go.

Since she said she wanted to do stairs I decided we'd drive to Lehigh. Didn't want to poop her out on hills before we started. We parked at Broughal and went down Brodhead to Morton. The out Morton to Campus Square. Total, there's about 80 steps there, broken up into sections with some walking between. She flew up them. We waited at the top for Sharon. then we hiked up the hill past Packer Chapel and down University Avenue, which is a pedestrian walkway. She looked to the right and said "we're no going there, are we?" Of course I said yes. Seventy steps, straight up, with maybe four landings, next to the old Newman House. Sharon stayed at the bottom. She was huffing and puffing when she got to the top, but I think feeling pretty dang good. I, of course, came behind because I was documenting everything. She looked to the right and saw another huge flight of stairs. Again she asked "Are we going there?" She was still out of breath. I dsaid not this time. A look of relief washed over her.

We came back down eighty stairs next to Grace Hall. Sharon was waiting at the bottom.

We wove in and out up and down for the next half hour. Total we did about 280 up and 250 down. Including the long flight down from Eighth Street to Brodhead.

Walking we only did maybe a mile and a half. But it was a tough mile and a half. When we got home the bread was done. The pumpkin was roasted. And the incredible shrinking woman was tired.

so I was in the dollar store ...

and the phone rang. It was Lydia. I'm coming over to process some pumpkin. "Do you want to walk at Lehigh? Maybe do some stairs?"

I've created a monster. And soon that monster will weigh less than me. But then I still get to eat real meals.

On the way back from the dollar store. My phone rang again. I told Sharon to answer it. I have no headset and I was in Allentown, where it's illegal to talk on the phone and drive. (Click and Clack from Car Talk on NPR were so ahead of their time on this issue. I always wanted one of the "Shut Up and Drive" bumper stickers.) It was Lisa, the nutritionist from the Bethlehem Township Community Center. Sharon seemed confused. From the bits of conversation I heard I knew it was important and found a space to pull over and snatched the phone from her hand.

She asked if I wanted to wait till after the holiday. That would be an emphatic "No". So we're planning on meeting tomorrow, 6:30, after school. The places are about a mile apart. I'll let you know. Better put my food journal in the car.

a 5k in the dark?

This week I was reading the paper (yeah, I'm a dinosaur.) and saw a little article on Lights in the Parkway, a drive thru Christmas light display. Until this year it's been motor vehicles only. Now they are having two bike nights. And a night (December 1) for runners and walkers. When I went to the site it's actually a 5k thru the display.

I called Bonnie and she said yes. I talked to Lydia yesterday and she will come if she can find a daddy sitter. Sharon is coming too. It will be a party in the parkway. Hopefully my pictures turn out. My camera is kind of crappy at night.

Then the unthinkable happened. Bonnie fell and hurt her "good" knee. She's not walking anywhere. So i'll be doing the Turkey Trot and joins walk alone next weekend.

She most likely won't join us for the Jingle Bell either. But maybe she will be okay for the new years eve walk.

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I found the photo on flickr, posted by Lehigh Valley. There was a download link, so I guess it was okay.

The week that was

It's been a crazy week. Not much walking getting done, at least initially, but I'm trying.

Monday and Saturday morning I went out with Sharon at the crack of dawn. About two miles.

On Tuesday and Thursday I walked a bit at lunch time in Easton. Maybe a generous mile.

Tuesday night I went to tai chi.

Then Friday things started to settle into normal. I picked Betsy at the hair salon and we headed to Trexler Park. We did the bottom loop twice and the upper loop once.

Saturday I headed to the Nor-Bath trail and met Lydia. We went fron the trial head on Savage Road to Bicentennial Park. It was a little over a mile and a half one way. Her first three mile walk. She is so ready for a 5k. We took silly pixs of me hugging the mile markers but I decided to post this one of her at the start. You can see her weight loss and the every two feet t-shirts. I skipped T'ai Chi to go with her.

I'll be heading out soon to do at least three miles.

Now that it's dark in the morning and at night, it's going to be harder and harder to keep walking. But I will.

sunday, in the park

waiting for me before crossing rte. 22

Yesterday I went bike riding on the Wilson bike path with Bug and Angel. Lets talk hills.

We got on the trail at 25th Street by the Bimbo Bakery (Maier's new name), down a nice hill, crossed Wood Avenue, thru a little park and then up a huge hill. Needless to say I walked nearly the whole thing. Bug soon joined me, and finally Angel. Walking was no problem.

Angel mentioned that was where they always stopped, but I wanted to go to the end and we reached Hackett Park, and turned around to come back. Coming back was no problems. I flew down the hill. I felt like Lance Armstrong.

Going back up the other side was hard and I ended up walking. Bug petered out before me, but Angel was going strong and I started chanting "Go Angel Go". The child got back on her bike and went up the hill, no problems. I guess she wanted to walk because I was walking.

waiting for me to cross wood avenue.

We had fun, but before spring I need to learn how the gears work and what they do. I should be in fair enough shape to make it up the smaller hill, and part way up the big one. I don't think my kid bikes ever had gears.

Our goal is to do the canal path trail to Frenchtown next year. And the canal is flat!

Now I just need to find a used bike for Bonnie for Christmas. I want her to come too.

a beautiful autumn day!

It's a perfect autumn day. I'm itching to walk, but am trying to be patient. I'm waiting for my neice to come. I'm helping her train for her first 5k. She's with her dad at the hospital now so the route I've planned starts at the hospital. It's about 2.85 miles, and a new route. Hopefully there isn't too many hills.

Yesterday I went out at 7 in the morning with Sharon. I asked her how the weather was, she said I needed a sweater. My sister Pat said I needed a light jacket. They were both wrong. I put on a sweater and headed out. It was 25 degrees! Walking warmed me up, but I was never overheated. My neck and hands were freezing.

Sharon's suggestion was that we take the scenic route downtown (my mom would say uptown), then she'd go to work. Sounded good to me, so that's what we did. When driving thru downtown I've seen these little signs but could never read them. Apparently we now how an official heritage trail. Not as cool as the one in Boston with the red line, but cool none the less.

Yesday, I also did the hour in the suburbs with Betsy.

Also this week I walked at lunch time on College Hill. I'm sure it was only a mile or so, but it's better than sitting on my ample bum. I didn't make T'ai Chi Tuesday, but I went today.

Tomorrow is bike riding with Bug and Angel. It's supposed to be nice again, so maybe I'll get a walk in also. Or, Sharon wants to go to the gym. Maybe I'll do that.

I also decided to do the peace pilgrimage. I believe in peace. The other stuff, usually much not. Faith, spirit  and I really aren't friends. If they'll have me, I'm going. 10 miles Nazareth to Bethlehem.

Looks like my rut is over, at least for a little while.

stair climbs

Stair climb season is upon us. I'll be doing the tower in Philly again, and then the stadium climb in Wilkes-Barre in March. Bonnie said she might come.

Last year I trained on campus at Acopian running up and down the six flights of stairs each day I was on campus. This year we;ve moved our office off-campus. Acopian is no longer next door. What to do?

I could hike over to Acopian and get the short walk and the stairs. Or maybe just walk up to the hospital and do the nine flights. But I wonder if it's necessary.

Our current building is an old mansion. I work on the third floor. I am up and down those stairs a minimum of three times a day. Usually closer to six or eight. Do I need to do Acopian, or the hospital? I'm not sure. But it certainly wouldn't hurt.

good news, bad news

Well the good news is I got a flu shot. Went to the drive-bys sponsored by the Health Department and the Lehigh Valley Hospital. I also called the nutritionist.

The bad news. The flu shot usually results in me getting sick and the nutritionist never called back. Maybe I should take that as a sign.

The really bad news? I've been a big fat lazy lard butt all weekend.

Friday I usually walk with Betsy. We talked about it. It was cold and damp and drizzly. I had a lot of posts to tend to from my online classes. I was going to Diwali* with my international student that night. I was looking for an excuse to stay home. Betsy wasn't thrilled to go, so I had my out and we stayed home. Strike one.

Saturday I went to T'ai Chi and nobody was there. I posted a basic walk on the every two feet page, and no one responded. I went looking for dryers instead. Strike two.


Today I was supposed to go to Planet Fitness with Sharon and walk with Lydia after my flu shot. Her day became unexpectedly complicated so she couldn't come. This morning when we were trying to plan our timing for the gym and the flu shot (they are about a mile apart) Sharon says: "I have an idea. You hate the gym. (Indeed I do.) Drop me at the gym and we'll start the wash at the laundromat in same shopping center as PF), I'll go to the gym go to your flu shot. OMG an "out" for the gym. I seized the opportunity. I should have went. I didn't. I told Sharon never to make an offer like that gain! No gym. No walk. I'm lazy. I have to volunteer at two. Strike three and I'm out.

I'm not going to kick myself. It happens. Next week we get back on the wagon

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*Diwali is the Hindu festival of lights, to celebrate the new season at the end of the monsoon. It is particularly associated with Lakshmi, the goddess of prosperity, and marks the beginning of the new year. The picture is from the altar.

where do the bird tracks lead?

Yesterday I had to work at the College in the morning, delver a bean salad to a funeral reception and then head to class at the community college. In between I stopped at Panera and picked up the Napa chicken salad. Yeah, it's not the healthiest thing on the menu, but it's actually better than the veggie sandwich I love. Bizarre.

Anyway, I got to school early. All the benches were still filled with students. On Tuesday/Thursday there are no classes between 11 and 12:30. It's the student activity period. That's when clubs meet, they have lectures and whatnot. All the things resident schools do in the evening. Even faculty meetings are held then.

I finally found a place to sit in the sun on a wall. As I'm eating my sandwich I see giant bird tracks. They were multi-colored and fascinated me. I threw away the bag and the wrapper and took my remaining half-sandwich and searched for a giant bird.

The tracks took me all over campus, but I never found the giant bird. I was disappointed. Since I was near the walking trail I did that loop and headed back toward my building, when in struck me that I should follow the tracks the other direction. They ended at the early education center on campus. Apparently they had some sort of activity with the children. I'm really curious to know what it was.

Tuesday night I went to the new session of t'ai chi. In addition to training walks this weekend with Lydia, I'm going for my drive-by flu shot on Sunday at Piggie Park. I'm also calling and scheduling a meeting with the nutritionist.

50:20!

Today we went to Reading for Fitzy's Halloween 5K. Yeah, there was one in Bethlehem, but it was for runners only. We had our best time ever 50:20 (or 50:15 by Bonnie's watch).

Pat came along, she needed to go to Vanity Fair. So she waited in the car.

We got to Reading quickly, and were looking for a parking space by 9:10. I saw some stairs where google maps wanted us to turn left. I made a mental note I should climb them. When we arrived at the park the streets were narrow and it was parked tight like sardines.  Bonnie needed the ptrt-o-potties so I dropped her off by a set of stair. Hmmm, wonder if those are the turn left stairs? We planned a meeting spot, and I went in search of parking. I ended up looping around and found those stairs again. I said to Pat I was going to park and see where they went.  When I got out of the car I could hear the 5K—a man making announcements and bad rock and roll.

I returned to the car and told Pat we were a block away. Straight down. Bonnie doesn't mind the stairs, so I'm staying put. There was about 70. We forgot to count.

I went down the stairs and was on the opposite side of the park. It's called Happy Hollow, because it's in a hollow. There were stairs all around it. I grabbed Bonnie and we checked in, and hiked our "bags" up to the car.

We went back down to the park and Bonnie took pixs of the costumes while I had a massage. We didn't do costumes. The boys in the picture were the most interesting. The little girl as a washer was the best and it was homemade. This race had a costume contest.

It was 10:30 before the race began. We had to hike out of the park and up a hill to get to the start. Walkers started in the back. We heard none of the announcements. I think the guy forgot to plug in his megaphone.

Only about 1/3 of the race was on the streets. The rest was in a huge park/. Think Lehigh Parkway but not as pretty. It also had a lot of gravel paths. Not great for quick walking.We ended up doing maybe 5 power walk spurts.

We kept playing leap frog with two women, and an older couple. We'd pass them, they'd pass us. The two women really wanted to beat us and ran into the finish. That's just wrong.

I know the walking portion of most of these events are not competitive, but cheating is cheating. If you want to run, sign up as a runner.

friday and saturday walks

Friday, over lunch Betsy and I walked. We changed our route. She needed to get candy for trick or treat, so we walked the indirect route to the Crest Plaza Shopping Center to Target.

I had mentioned seeing a sign on Calvary Temple that they were having a health fair and giving free flu shots. I need one, prefer it to be free. So we decided we would see how long the line was, then I was going to go there, and Betsy to Target. But we couldn't find which door to use. That's because I had no idea what day it was. The sign clearly said October 30. Saturday, not Friday. Duh.

When we left her house it was bright and sunny. When we came out of Target is was cloudy and lightly raining. It stopped quickly but rained at least one more time before we got back to her house.

Saturday Lydia came over for lunch and to walk. We got her dad into the house and then we headed out. I had one route planned with three lengths. She chose a modified middle route. Out Itaska, Broadway, Back Delaware, down Fourth, back Wyndotte and Broadway. I decided weaving up the hill would be better for her, but as it turns out that was wrong. Broadway is flat and the hill two blocks. The way I went the hill was about four blocks. Oops. We did about 2.5 miles. Pretty good for her first training walk.

so far this week

Sharon and I walked Monday morning and I went to T'ai Chi last night. When I arrived, I found out it was the last class in the session. To continue I need to buy another session ($25). If I do I would also l sign up for the nutritionist (5 weeks, $125).

So far my roomies haven't a clue what I'm doing Tuesday night. I make up lame excuses to leave the house. Not sure if they even realize it's every Tuesday since my schedule is so erratic. Can I fool them for another six weeks?

I really like the class. Still can't do any of it, but I like it. It relaxes me, at least for a hour. The six o'clock time frame is a bear with the rush hour traffic. Is it worth it? I relax while there, and two seconds after I walk in the house the stress is back. If I check my phone then any good is wiped out by a screaming message "where the f*ck are you?" Yes, I'm 50 something and they are not my mother. Besdies, she wouldn't use that language.

Gotta decide by the time class is over. The community center is a mile away. It's now or never.

sunday in the park

I posted a beginner walk today for every three feet. Several people and a dog came. It was quite exciting. Of course it was all family. Even the dog.

We were at Bicentennial park in East Allen Township. We did two loops that totaled about 1.5-1.75 miles. Lydia's pedometer read 2500 steps which would be 2.5 miles. It wasn't that far. Part of the course was one of the fitness walk things and we played on all the equipment. Lyd took pixs with her moms camera of us being silly.

I talked to Lyd about setting a 5K for a goal and she said yes, hesitantly. I think she can do it. If I can, and Sharon can, she can.

This morning, for the first time in months I went to Planet Fitness with Sharon. 15 minutes on the bike at 10 and I didn't break a sweat. Guess I need to figure out how to change the settings. Then we did the dreaded machines. ALmost had a fight with Sharon. She is using them wrong. I'm not 100% sure what she should be doing, but it certainly didn't look like the pictures! For Christmas I'll have to get her personal training sessions again. I think she's forgotten everything.

catching up

Monday was tough. I was a bit sore, but I got up at 6:30 and went walking with Mary Liz. getting out of bed was the hard part.

Tuesday the stairs at work were tough, at least in the morning. I was looking forward to t'ai chi. but I didn't get there. We were setting up the faculty art show and ran over time.

Wednesday I went out with Mary Liz in the morning, and again on Friday. also on Friday I did an hour at a quick pace with Betsy.

Today I did two sessions of T'ai chi.

Tomorrow I'll bedding a beginner walk with Lydia. she's starting to walk around the trailorhood. Maybe we can set a 5k as a new goal for her. perhaps the Jingle Bell in December or the new years eve 5k in Bethlehem.

Bonnie and I will doing one in Reading on Halloween, and another in downtown Bethlehem Thanksgiving weekend. Then the Jingle Bell on December 5 and the ten mile peace pilgrimage from Nazareth to Bethlehem on December 11.

sunday

Sunday we were up at five packing and getting ready for the walk. The wind had calmed down a bit, and it was supposed to get warmer. Bonnie called the front desk to see if we could get the bags to the car or if there was a holding area. They told us the bellman would take care of it. We came off the elevator and found the bellmen. He said "follow the pink people"! There was a large group of people waiting to check their bags.

We didn't get a really big bus this time. We got the mini bus with a lovely driver who didn't drive like a crazy person. And actually didn't hang on the phone. I {heart} responsible drivers.

We had breakfast and hit the line for the port-o-potties. By the time Bonnie came out,  the walk started, so we didn't go to the start line we went straight out and saved ourselves fifty whole feet! The section in Randall's Island is about three miles of park ending with a pedestrian bridge. One layer of clothes was off before we even reached the first rest stop.

We came out of the park at about 90th street and headed back uptown to about 120th. We went around central park and down Columbus Avenue again. While circling the park we got the call from Beth that she and Alan had arrived. They walked up to Columbus circle and the west side of the park and waited for us at 70th. We met them after our lunch stop (10:45ish) and they walked with us back to 45th. While they headed to lunch and the pier, we continued down 5th past Hearld Square and all the way down to about 15th. We walked thru Madison Square park and headed east to Riverside Drive. I took off my sneakers at the final rest stop. Again, it was wonderful. But I should not have sat down. It totally took the wind out of my sails. That last half mile was tough. I hit a wall. the lady in the wheelchair past me! (She rolled the entire walk, self-propelled!)

Bonnie had quite a cheering section at the end. Sharon, Beth, Alan and her neice Emily and her husband Christian who came in via subway from Brooklyn. Bonnie finished about two blocks ahead of me. While she talked to her family, Beth and I searched for beer and coca cola. It never tasted so good.

We decided not to stay for closing and meet at the Clinton dinner for Dinner.

For more photos see: http://good-times.webshots.com/album/578827986UUDAHj

saturday, walking in the wind

Saturday we were up at about 4:30 and downstairs for the bus before 5:15. There was so many people headed to opening ceremonies. The buses were stacked up like we we're at the port authority. Most everyone with sleeping bags and luggage. We stayed at the hotel because Bonnie flat out refused to camp. Glad we did. It was so windy.

We arrived at opening ceremonies and lost each other. Pretty much as soon as we got off the bus. I called Bonnie's cell and it was not on. She finally called mine and we met up. Then got in line for breakfast. Ultimately they walked down the aisles of people and passed out power bars, and awful yogurt. There was not tea when we arrived at the head of the line. Nor was there OJ. We decided to get fruit at the first pit stop and keep moving. The theme was Broadway and the Phantom of the Opera was very popular. I told Bonnie we would see him again.

The walk started at pier 84 and headed uptown to about 125th Street. it was cold and windy. Vey windy. we keep a quick pace, but not our 5k pace, throughout the day. The we looped around and headed back downtown. Ultimately, if you were doing the 26.3 miles you would go down to city Hall over the Brooklyn Bridge, loop thru Brooklyn and come back the Manhatten bridge and then head uptown to Randall's Island. Bonnie and I planned to only do the half-marathon.

On our way down Columbus Avenue we found the uptown location of Magnolias Bakery. I was sure we wouldn't stop, considering Bonnie's gluten intolerance since the cancer drugs. Then she says, I wonder if they have anything gluten free? We went in and they did. a flourless brownie. The counter girl put hers in a bag, and mine in a box. I thought why? we're going to eat them in a minute. Wrong! we carried them to the finish line, where they stayed perfect and we ate them.

We grabbed the shuttle bus back to the wellness village (where Sharon was working) from the half marathon finish line. The Asian bus driver was worse than any NYC taxi driver I've rode with. I took off my sneakers and put on my Birks, and my feet were happy. I crossed the finish line wearing my Birks.

Who was waiting for us at wellness village? Sharon of course. But also the Phantom of the Opera. we got our picture then headed off for the chiropractor and massage tents.

dinner was pasta, meatballs, green beans, and salad. The veggie entree was an enchilada filled will beans and veggies, topped with cheese and sauce. I always sign up for these things as a vegetarian, so I checked if it was a flour or corn tortilla. The volunteer didn't know the answer but the supervisor checked with the catering service and she yelled back "gluten free". Bonnie ate my entree, I ate hers. we headed back to the hotel to watch tv and to do my class via phone with Angel.

another early morning faced us. last bus to Randalls Island was at 6:15.

More pixs go to: http://good-times.webshots.com/album/578827986UUDAHj

avon walk wrap up.

Yes, I know you've been waiting to hear all about it. It is embarrassing that it has taken me a whole week to write about a great weekend. Yet alone everything that has happened since. But it has been crazy. Too much work and not enough time. Plus catching up on home stuff. I have about an hour to write and a iPad on probation. The time is now.

I am in the laundromat, drying towels. My dryer broke about a month ago, maybe more and the expense to repair it is greater than the cost of a new one. I will get a new one, but am waiting till at least November when I can not hang anything out. So I grabbed the iPad and here I am. Typing and eating fried rice from the Chinese restaurant next door. (not recommended activity.)

Where to start? I guess at the beginning.

Friday, Sharon and I met Bonnie at her office about 12:30. She had to work in the morning. I packed at eleven. Why? My online class monopolized my morning. I posted that I was doing the walk and I would check in as I could. That I had not abandoned them. I did it Tuesday. Wednesday they started posting like it w the end of the world. The work was piling up. it was crazy.

We piled all the stuff in Bonnie's car, and headed to Saladworks for lunch. Then we hit the road. I read out loud the "Let's walk" eight page instructions for the weekend. I was the only one to download it.

it was the first time Bonnie has driven into the city and it went remarkable smooth. Ring around the Lincoln Tunnel hadn't even started yet!

The host hotel was the Sheraton Times Square. Upon arrival we asked where to park and were directed to the deck with the tightest corner to maneuver. The man took Bonnie's keys and the car and directed to the hotel. We checked in and found our tiny room. It was the size of a NYC apartment There was just enough room for the dresser, two full size beds and a desk. if anyone remembers my bedroom on Seneca Street it gives you a sense of the type of space we had.

The room was on the 22nd floor. I wanted to walk the steps, but never did.

We changed and went to register and go to the expo. When we arrived at the conference suite,  we met Bonnie's walker buddy Tara, and grabbed a flyer for a lecture on nutrition and cancer. The speak was Leslie Bonci, the dietician from the Pittsburgh Steelers.

The expo room was long and skinny and packed with people. Last year it was spacious. You registered in the middle, and shopped along the sides and the two ends. Avon had a store on one end, Reebok on the other. We walked, shopped and talked and met lots of nice people. Sharon had a crew meeting at five, so Bonnie and I took our purchases up to our room and then went down to the lecture. Appetizers at 5:30, lecture at 6. The crew meeting was supposed to end at six, so we got food, and put our stuff down at three seats and I went up to get Sharon. She wasn't ready—she had a meeting after the meeting. I told her where to come and there would be Starbucks coffee and good cheese waiting. She never found us. She waited in the hotel lobby for us.

The nutritionist from the Steelers was great. Lots of good practical advice, and funny as heck. Then of course came the oncologist sponsor, and a happy patient. Boring. But we got a cookbook and some great food. Not a bad way to spend the evening.

We found Sharon and headed off into the streets looking for food. We found an Irish Pub and looking at the menu Bonnie found some gluten free items. The staff was wearing Avon breast cancer ribbons and the special of the night was the breast cancer awareness cosmo. Five bucks for a mixed drink in NYC. And the glass was full. Bonnie and I got one, Sharon had ice tea and we toasted the walk. Everyone came by and wished us well. It was pretty obvious what were doing. The owner of the bar had a thick accent.

Food was delicious and Bonnie even found food she could eat.

We finished the night by walking in Times Square and shopping at a tacky tourist store. It had been so long since I did either. I was surprised that it is actually fun. We went to bed about 10. We needed to be on the bus at 5:15 am.

So the iPad is down to 26% battery. I guess I need to wrap this up and continue it later. I have to run ML and Bob to Newark in an hour, so it might not be until tonight.

nyc here we come!

Tomorrow is the big day. Our Avon Breast Cancer Walk adventure begins. We'll be leaving Bonnie's office at 12:30. (She has to work in the morning.)

I've taken a few short walks this week, and went to Tai Chi, but other than that, I've been getting ready for the big walk weekend. I'll walk with Sharon in the morning, then get packed.

She's driving. Her first time driving in NYC. Maybe I'll end up driving her car. We'll see.

We're staying in the host hotel in Times Square. Big money, but we're splitting it in three, so it will be better. The Expo will be in the hotel. Saturday and Sunday we walk. Then we cross the finish line and come home.


Then it's over. But I'll still be walking and climbing stairs. The Wilkes Barre stair climb is March 19!

Before I have about $250 to put in my fund-raising account, and then I'll self donate the other $250. Not bad considering I didn't have a fundraiser. Just too much crap this year. I'd walk accross the country if I didn't have to raise money. I love to walk.

I'll try to blog from the event. I have my iPad. All I need is wifi.  If nothing else, I can do the write ups in notepad and copy/paste them when I get home.

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Good luck to all my friends walking tomorrow in the Philly 3-Day. There really will be a pink army out there this weekend.

Nor-bath trail

Yesterday Bonnie and I did five miles in her neigh-borhood.

Today, we did the Nor-Bath Rail Trail. About 10 miles. We started in Northampton and walked to Bath and back. It was a fairly flat walk, pretty uninteresting. Except for a cute little cottage with a fence made from bicycles. It was gravel the whole way and I got to tell you that's hard on the feet.

Today I carried my backpack and my iPad. I tried to bring everything that I carry at the Avon. I needed to make sure I could still carry it all. I could.

In the process we did some research for my niece who had WLS.  She lives in "North-
ampton". Yeah, right. So this trail is fairly close to her. As well as the walking path in Bicentennial park.

It was a beautiful day and we didn't meet many other people until late in the morning. I found that odd. The D&L is a traffic jam by 7:30 am. Guess they like to sleep in on Sunday's.

I'll be doing short walks this week. We leave for the Avon Friday, about noon. Bonnie is driving into NYC for the first time.

terrible food day

I struggle with food. It's no longer a pleasure but a series of options, hopefully choosing ones that won't kill me in the long run. Sugar is my nemeses. Carbs follow close behind. If I'm not careful I could become pre-diabetic. I don't want that to happen.

I was doing well eating, and then fell off the wagon, so to speak. I've been struggling the last three weeks to get back on, but I can never get my footing.

Friday, I crashed. It was the worse food day in months.

In my area we have a convenience store called Wawa. They, like every other store have breakfast options. I ignore them. They are near the checkout, under a heat lamp and totally unappealing. Right now they are having a sale, 2/$3. It's everywhere—radio, tv, billboards, newspaper....  So Friday I went to Wawa. I didn't have breakfast. I had just finished walking with ML the 2.25 miles. I was waiting at the register and they brought trays of fresh, hot-from-the-oven sandwiches out. I was seduced by the smell and one appeared in my hand. Sausage, eggs, cheese on a CROISSANT! I think I grabbed the most toxic one on the shelf.

I got to the car, opened it and bit.. OMG was it delicious. Normally after I eat out I go home and look on the website to see how I did. But I knew that I didn't do well. Everything was fat. I finished the sandwich and went to throw away the box and the nutrition facts were on the bottom—500 calories. 320 from fat alone, and the real choker, over 900 mg of salt (40%).

That was bad but I could have recovered from it if I ate the rest of the day at home and had plenty of veggies and fruit. No, it was a travel day.

I took Pat shopping and it got to be lunch time and I asked where she wanted to go. Don Pablos. A Tex-Mex place. Apparently w/o a single vegetarian option or vegetable other than corn. We ended up slitting a two cheese enchilada platter. It came with rice and a corn cake. Pat asked for guacamole.  More carbs, more fat. More bad choices.

But then I went for an hour walk with Betsy at a quick pace.

I decided not to eat dinner. Didn't get anything out. Sharon, however, didn't eat all day and was hungry. We ended up getting Chinese food. Sharon paid. I resisted for 2 minutes.

Horrible, horrible day. I knew all the choices I was making were wrong and did it anyway.

rain delay

Mary Liz and I planned to walk this morning at 6:30, but it was pouring. So we had a rain delay. Maybe when I get out to the college it will be nice enough to walk the walking trail. Although part of it is grass. I might have to swim that section.

kidney walk cancelled

Eryn, the kids, a couple of her friends were all supposed to do the Kidney Walk today. For me it's a walk in the park, literally. It's maybe a mile ... and a half.

I wasn't sure what time it started so I went online last night to see and found this message:

“IMPORTANT INFORMATION!!!

 DUE TO THE POUNDING RAINS THE LAST FEW DAYS; THE LEHIGH VALLEY KIDNEY WALK HAS BEEN CANCELLED.’’

Say what? Why didn't I get an email? The only thing I can think of is that  I used a work address instead of my walking one. But why. I would have show up there this morning for no reason what so ever. I wonder how many people did.

training walk in allentown

Bonnie on the Susquehanna Street bridge.

Today we started at Bonnie's and did 5.25 miles. We started at her place and walked all the way out Lexington till we got to Kmart. That's where we left Sharon. We proceeded thru the shopping center, and the apartment complex and up Dixon to Mack Blvd. Then back thru Trout Creek Park, over the Susquehanna Street bridge, and back Chapel and ultimately Lexington.

Neither of us could remember the park name, but we found the sign and it's Trout Creek park. And as always happens in A'town, the bathrooms were closed. I checked. I wanted to make sure that their track record was intact. But in their defense there was one port-o-potty. We didn't open the door. I can't imagine it's condition that park is used very heavily. The sign on the comfort station said restrooms closed due to vandalism. It doesn't surprise me, but it does make me a bit sick. Soon public parks will have no amenities.

Bonnie was on-call and we had to stop and take a call as we were coming out of the park. As we crossed the Susquehanna Street bridge, we both realized we had never walked it before. Photo op—a new bridge!

Walking back to her place I found this tree with a great gnome house. It even has a window on the other side. Someone/something is certainly living in there, but I doubt if it was a gnome.  What earthly treasures are there to guard in south Allentown?

Bonnie was on vacation last week, but walked all over Disney. I did some walking without her. We were surprised how effortless today was. It felt really good. The Avon is in two weeks and we are ready.